The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-12-21
A CHRISTMAS In MEXICO.
BY NICHOLAS BIDDLE.


A light touch on the shoulder, and
the words: "Why, senior, it is indeed a
pleasure to see you here, interrupted the
dismal reverie into which had fallen
last Christmas morning.
For several hours / had been walking
to and fro through the little town of
San Marcial, New Mexico, wondering
what to do with myself to kill time,
and thinking sadly of the merry hrist.
mas festivities of my eastern home and
the pleasure with which | had always
hitherto looked forward to the day.
/ had arrived in San Mare al on
Christmas Eve from my cabin in the
Magdalena Mountains, fifty miles DIS
tant, in the hope of finding some pleas
urable excitement, but the bright warm
morning with which Christmas was ush-
cred in brought only disappointment.
] had imagined san Marcial to be
considerable town, with some genuine
attractions, but / found the new or
American town to be composed of rail
road depot, saloon and half dozen
frame dwellings of mean pretensions.
The Mexican town, II couple Of miles
lower down the river, was but little
larger, and stroll through its dusty
streets revealed nothing of interest, and
few signs of life beyond few half
naked children playing in the dIt,
some stray pigs wandering around in II
most disconsolate fashion, and large
number of ill-tempered Gus. that
growled ferociously upon my approach.
| must have looked extremely de
jected as walked around, and my de-
lection was real until | felt tou, il on
my shoulder aud was suddenly enchanted
by the thought Of seeing some one with
whom | was acquainted.
/ turned and found young Mexican
named Encarnacion holding out his hand
in friendly salutatiOn.
had known Encarnacion for nearly
two years and had become greatly at
tached TO him.
While in my employ for a period of
nearly two years, he had proven faith
full and devoted servant and had made
himself almost invaluable. Moreover he
was an excellent Indian fighter, and in
several skirmishes my life had been
saved by his bravery and knowledge of
the enemy's methods. lie was also
ings were enlivened by his stories of
Mexican life and adventure, had often
listened with quiet amusement to his
glowing descriptions OF the pleasures anu
attractions of the hamlet where he was
born, and he never tired of narrating
with poetic detail how beautiful WIS the
young girl whom he was to marry. lie
had set out with the intention of accu-
mulating few hundred dollars, with
which to build house to receive hi,
bride, who had refused him, he said, on
account of his poverty, but had promised
to become his when he should return
with the small amount on which a McNi-
can is content TO live. As he had earned
even more than seemed sufficient, and he
had left me saying proudly that the
most beautiful woman in the world
would soon become his bride, my first
question was as to whether he was mar
ried.
''Helas senor," lie replied, 'when /
returD"d.I found my beloved lua cold as
ice. She refused me scornfully, and l
fear from her actions that she has learned
% love another. All, that such thing
should come to pass! | can no more be
happy He had scarcely spoken before
his tone changed with that mutability
that shows the trace Of Spanish blood in
the MeXicans. With a cordiality aud
a politeness that MeXicans even Of the
lowest station always show. he continued:
'I am very glad, senor, that you should
have come to San Marcial on this day. 1
shall deem it a great honor 10 myself and
my lather il you will take dinner with us
in our humble home in the y,i1ci q across
the river. ! feel sure that should yoa
deign to accept can make the day
pleasant one.
/ accepted the invitation, and we were
soon in little boat rowing across the
Rio Grande TO the hamlet on the other
side-a hamlet so small that il was not
even named, but was designated Gs the
pLacita or little village
After landing aud walking about half
a mile over a dusty road, we came 10 the
cluster of one story houses built of adobe
or mud brick which composed the nilri'u,
that resembles in all respects except 81 e
the other Mexican vii ages of the teri.
tory. having similar looking buildings
with similar strings OF dried chile hang
ing by the doO:s, similar scautily clad
children and similar savage dogs
Saying we would find his father in the
store, Encarnacion led me 10 n building
in front of which hung a sigl with the
legend, LA Tienda Chihua uense de
Miguel Baca,' under which was Is.
pended a very poor quarter of beef, whicL
was covered with flies aud looked any
thing but appe,iying.
The entrance to tie store was so low
that we were obliged to stoop to get in.
The place was small aud had a low cell
ing made of rough mfters joined with
mud the counter consisted of couple